As we brace for the cool, crisp evenings and shorter days of fall, this month’s VOD and web series picks invite reflections on all types and facets of relationships. Quirky romances, friendships, community support, and conflict are showcased in these pieces, ranging from a pesky and smitten mosquito, to former nemeses-turned-friends, to young overachievers grappling with addiction.
“Thirsty” is a quirky short, following a mosquito’s infatuation with a man after getting a whiff of his alluring blood. “Sno Babies” follows two college-bound, high-achieving best friends who have the world at their fingertips but hide a potentially deadly secret from their well-meaning families. “Pretty & Gritty,” this month’s web series pick, follows an unlikely friendship and female empowerment, with a punch.
Here are Women and Hollywood’s latest VOD and web series selections.
VOD
“Thirsty” (Short) – Directed by Nicole Delaney; Written by Nicole Delaney and Sonya Goddy
“Can I keep you forever?” Maya Rudolph, voicing a love- and blood-thirsty mosquito, laments after tasting Jay Ellis’ blood. After taking a sip, she struggles diligently to communicate her adoration for him. “Thirsty” offers an unexpected and unconventional exploration of love, empathy, heartbreak, and intimacy in the form of a mosquito-meets-boy narrative.
Ellis plays an unnamed character who has recently ended a relationship after his ex-girlfriend cheated on him. The short follows him seeking counsel from friends and a clinician while a mosquito seeks him, expressing what the short’s creators describe in their write-up about the film, as an “unflinching desire to feel human.”
Watch “Thirsty” on Vimeo.
“Sno Babies” – Directed by Bridget Smith
The trailer for “Sno Babies” showcases Princeton aspirations, parties, and laughs as smart, popular best friends Kristen (Katie Kelly) and Hannah (Paola Andino) live their best, if busiest, lives — all while navigating addictions to heroin. The film immediately introduces a foreboding ambiance, setting the stage for a devastatingly predictable and tragic spiral. As Kristen endures the various consequences of addiction, including heightened vulnerability to sexual assault and strained familial relationships, she tells countless lies in desperate efforts to get her next fix.
As is noted on the film’s website, “Sno Babies” promises a look into young friendships with giggles, crushes, and heartbreaks, but vacillates between these lighthearted scenes and blackouts as the protagonists’ motivation and vibrancy diminish. The film “offers a gripping and emotive story about the grim realities of addiction and the triumph and challenges of recovery from substance use disorders.”
The film’s creators are also using the film to raise funds for The Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI), which supports services for people in the early stages of recovery from substance addiction. Every stream of the film, as well as the song “Maybe It’s Time” — by Sixx: A.M. featuring Corey Taylor, Joe Elliott, Brantley Gilbert, Ivan Moody, Slash, AWOLNATION, and Tommy Vext — from the film’s soundtrack will contribute proceeds to GRI.
“Sno Babies” will be available on VOD platforms including iTunes and Amazon September 29.
Web Series
“Gritty & Pretty” – Created by Xenia Leblanc and Kelly Russo; Written and Directed by Xenia Leblanc
This female-driven comedy starts with a blast from the past as boxing gym owner Kira Waikovsky (Xenia Leblanc) and social media influencer Lauren Barton (Kelly Russo) literally crash into each other and revitalize their contentious high-school dynamic. Kira spars in the opening shot of the first episode before swooning over a man who works out at her gym. Meanwhile, Lauren is navigating unhappiness at work, where she is beholden to a power-hungry micromanager as the host for an Instagram channel. The pair ultimately seem to bury the hatchet, opting instead for a witty, incisive banter as they support each other relying on their respective strengths.
Leblanc, who co-created, wrote, directed, and stars in “Gritty & Pretty,” recently won Film Riot’s Stay At Home Film Challenge. She explained in press materials for “Gritty and Pretty” that she “wanted to create a show that highlights female friendships and empowers up-and-coming female filmmakers to take charge and create the content they want to see on their screens.” The series relies on the humor Leblanc developed from “the sarcastic nature of [her] Russian upbringing,” and she hopes the series is a model for authentic storytelling.
Keep an eye out for “Gritty & Pretty.” The series premiered at the Dances with Films Festival earlier this month.
